The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right foot disability, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for degenerative arthritis of the spine with scoliosis prior to October 27, 2023, is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability met the criteria for an increased 20 percent rating for the initial rating period prior to October 27, 2023.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder disability, right foot disability, tinnitus (ringing in ears), migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis of the spine with scoliosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26024953
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26024953.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between service, including a stick injury in England, and current left eye disability (including amblyopia and cataracts) as well as migraine headaches.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
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